Sleeve filler



Feb-.11. 1925. 1,526,389

H. G. STEEN r SLEEVE FILLR Filed Dec. 14, 192s invento/40 mm@ l l Patented Feb. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES HERBERT G. STEEN, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK.

SLEEVE EILLER.

Application led December 14, 1923. Serial No. 680,710.

To all lwhom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HERBERT G. STEEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at EL mira, in the county of Chemung and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sleeve Fillers, of which the following is a. specification.

My present invention is a sleeve filler especially adaptable for use in connection with the display of coats and other garments.

`Heretofore, in arranging coats and similar garments upon forms in show windows, stores, etc., great difliculty has been eXperienced in properly padding or stutling the sleeves thereof so that they will assimulate the same smooth and natural appearance they present when occupied by an arm. vVarious means have been resorted to for the accomplishment of this end, among which the employment of wads of newspaper is perhaps the most common. The great diiiiculty with this and analogous eXpedients is that it is practically impossible to distribute the paper evenly sof as to avoid bumps and wrinkles in the sleeve. Additionally con` siderable time is necessarily expended in securing even a semi-satisfactory result, and

even when the task is completed there is no assurance that the filling wont drop out if the sleeve is jarred or touched. p

It is therefore the primary object of my invention to provide a sleeve filler which may be conveniently applied and attached in a `coat or other sleeve for display pur poses, and one which will, when in position lend the sleeve a natural arm-occupied appearance without unseemly lumps or wrinkles.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a filler of this character which is very simple in its formation, highly efficient in use and inexpensive of manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particnlarity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, however, and of the advantages possessed by it, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention.

Referring specifically to the drawing,

wherein like reference characters have been used to indicate like parts throughout, numeral 5 denotes a section of rubberized or similar cloth which is suitably cut to conform with the normal position of an arm in This portion 5 forms the a coat sleeve. inside of the sleeve filler, the outer portion thereof comprising a section of rubberized cloth 6 of somewhat increased width and length. The side and bottom edges of the section of cloth 6 are lapped over the corresponding edges of the cloth 5 and suitably vulcanized thereto to form an air tight bag which when inflated as described hereinafter will assume the normal position of an arm to cause the sleeve of a coat upon a display form to hang ina natural manner as it would upon a human wearer.

The rubberized fabric portion 5 at its upper endis cut out somewhat as indicated at 5l. This formation while not altogether necessary is considered desirable to permit better fitting of the filler in the sleeve, the illerat its upper end being closed by means of an armpit shield of relatively heavy rubberized fabric, this shield being denoted at 7. The armpit shield 7 will be lapped over the upper and side edges of the portions 5 and 6 and vulcanized thereto, it being understood of course that it willalso be vulcanized to the Section5 along the marginal upper edge thereof. This armpit shield will be so cut and so positioned that when the sleeve filler is inflated by means of the rubber tube 8 at the lower end thereof the outer and inner lines of the filler will merge with the lines of the form upon which the coat is hung and give the junction of the sleeve and shoulder a smooth natural appearance.

[is a. precautionary measure the upper edge ol the iillcr is closel by a. rubberized strip 10 which is suitably vulcanized to tho upper sides ot' the liller. is a means for securing the iiller in place in the sleeve, I have. provided a tab ll which is disposed and held in place by means oi the strip l0. 'lhis tab il will be pinned to the inside of the coat just below the arn'ipit thereof. lt may, it' desired, he pinned to the forni upon which the coat is hung.

rlhe tube S may be located at the bot-toni edge of the filler in any preferred position and ail'cr the Ailler has been inflated the outer portion ot the tube may be closed by clamping the saine with a rubber band.

From the foregoing description read in connection with the acconipanying drawing, the novel -features and advantages ol my sleeve vfiller will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. ln using the appliance it considered preferable to dispose the filler in the sleeve While in an operative condition. 'lhe iiller having been secured in the sleeve as above stated by means of the tab l1. lt will be inflated to a sufficient degree to display the sleeve in the most ellective manner. But very little time will be required for this operationand when the coat is to be removed 'trom the display liorin it is only necessary to let the air out ot the iiller after which it can be unpinned and removed.

lli/Then out of use it may be folded up and occupies very little space.

Attention is especially directed to the fact that the longitudinal edge portions of the section 6 are overlapped with and are vulcanized to the edge portions ot the inner section 5 to provide double thicknesses at the iront and rear edges ot the sleeve Shaper. lThis renders the front and rear edges ot the sleeve 'form or shaper less expansible than the central portions ot' the sections 5 and 6 andconsequently when the shaper is inflated it Will be somewhat elliptical in cross-section and the rather sharp front and rear edges ot the same will he positioned in contact with the inner sides ot the creased front and rea-r edges o' the sleeve to ei"- liectively display the creases at the front and rear edges of the sleeve.

t is thus seen that the natural forni o the coat sleeve is etlectively displayed and it is not rounded at its iront and rear edges as would be the case Without the double thickness at the front und rear edges or' the sleeve shaper.

Vlhe embodiment ot the invention shown and described Will be considered as illustrative ot what l now consider the pre'ierred forni. However l reserve the right to make various changes therein as may fairly fail Within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

l claim:

l. A pneumatic sleeve shaper for coat iorins comprising inner and outer expansible sections, the longitudinal edge portions oi' one section being extended over and vulcanized to the longitudinal edge portions of the other section whereby to provide double thickness edge portions adapted to be positioned in contact Awith the inner sides oli the creased trent and rear edge portions ot the coat sleeve to display the creases in the sleeve.

2. A pneumatic sleeve Shaper for coat forms comprising inner and outer expansible sections, the longitudinal edge portions of one section being extended over and vulcanized to the longitudinal edge portions oi the other section whereby to provide double thickness edge portions adapted to be positioned in contact With the inner sides of the creased 'front and rear edge portions of the coat sleeve to display the creases in the sleeve7 said double thickness `front and rear edge portions being less expansive than the central single thickness portions of the sections.

ln testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

HERBERT G. STEEN. 

